GREENWOOD TWP- Greenwood Clerk Sue Drobac had a bit of explaining to do at Tuesday’s town board meeting after the township’s computer system was infected with malware.

“A message came up on my computer saying we were locked out and I needed to download virus protection,” she told the board. “I gave out our credit card information.”

Fortunately, Drobac immediately realized that she had been the victim of a scam, and no township information, financial, personnel, or otherwise, was compromised. Unfortunately, the malware did infect the township computer, rendering it inoperable.

The township had been planning on replacing the clerk’s computer this year. The cost for repairing the older computer was estimated to be as high as $800, so the clerk was given permission by a board member to go ahead and purchase a new computer prior to full board approval.

“We have a new credit card, and have updated our banking information,” she told the board. “We also have additional protection and security installed on the new computer.”

Chairman John Bassing said the township attorney advised the board to retroactively approve the purchase of the new computer, which was $1,845 for the computer and installation, plus $246 for new software.

Malware is malicious software that can be used to compromise computer functions, steal data, bypass access controls, or otherwise cause harm to the host computer.

Playground update

The board got the chance to talk with Stacy Strand, from Flagship Recreation, the company that the Greenwood Recreation Committee is purchasing the new playground equipment from. Strand described the play structure, which will include four swings (one is handicap-accessible), and a larger slide/play structure. The base material is an engineered wood chip material, that will need to be replaced as it compacts/decomposes. He estimated the annual maintenance cost to be around $400. The recreational committee is raising the funds needed to purchase and maintain the play structure. The entire structure and play surface is certified to meet all required safety and insurance standards. The estimated cost for the play structure is $27,841. The group is planning to do a supervised build, with volunteers working with a certified installer from the playground company. Experienced contractors Jack Williams, Dave Fazio, and Loren Turner have all volunteered to help supervise.

The recreation committee held a successful fundraiser for the playground last weekend. Jarri Ankrum also asked the town board to make sure the lawns are mowed weekly, and that water is left on at the pavilion, which is being used on a regular basis.

Paid-On-Call

The newly-developed paid-on-call (POC) guidelines for fire department members were not approved, after questions were raised on the minimum requirements to receive pension credit.

“We are paying a lot of money for a response to one fire call,” said Supervisor Mike Ralston. “Should it be 50 percent of the fire calls? I am not supporting one call.”

Fire Department Safety Officer Ed Borchardt noted the town board and department members had wrestled with this issue. He noted the requirements call for response to one call in the first half of the year, and one in the second.

“It is not unusual to have three actual fire calls in a year,” he said, “though we do have more calls with fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.”

“We had a fire two weeks ago and seven showed up,” Borchardt said. “That is a good turnout.”

Ralston said he would like to see a greater emphasis on training, rather than regular business meetings.

Supervisor Larry Tahija said when the department was all-volunteer, members went to every call.

“When that pager went off, you got up and went,” he said. “There was no one or two times a year. It didn’t make a difference if you had to work the next day.”

A motion by Bassing to table the POCs and come back next month to discuss the number of calls died for lack of a second. A motion by Ralston to table until next month and come back with recommendations for number of meetings, drills, and calls passed 4-1 with Bassing voting against.

The department’s Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) were not yet ready for approval, Bassing said.

The township’s new personnel policy was also tabled, because it will include language from the POC guidelines. The township has been working with their attorney to develop comprehensive employee personnel guidelines and policies that will apply to township employees and fire department members.

Other business

• The board passed a motion to no longer publicly read any anonymous correspondence. The board had received two anonymous complaints this month.

• Mary Richard reported on the community rummage sale held opener weekend. They are planning a second sale for early fall. Anyone interested should contact the clerk’s office. They are also planning another chili cookoff event for the fall.

• Jeff Maus asked the board to continue to honor the open meeting law, specifically in reference to committee meetings.

• Awarded the bid to repaint the town hall to Hartway Painting and Wallcovering of Cook for $6,025. The township received three bids.

• Will rent a handicap accessible porta-john for the pavilion area.

• Set the pay for the assistant fire chief at $559/month and the fire administrative assistant at $222/month (same salaries as before), and noted these positions no longer involve a contract.

• Will replace the plaque honoring retired fire department members. The old plaque has disappeared and updates needed to be made.

• Will discuss updated job descriptions for the fire department at the July meeting. Bassing noted that the job descriptions used to hire the recent applicants were from 2010, and new job descriptions had been written in 2014 which were not followed.

• Will seek quotes on propane.

• Passed a motion to not give township comments on zoning matters to St. Louis County. The vote was 4-1 with Bassing voting against. Other area townships that have St. Louis County oversee zoning do sometimes offer comments on variance and other permit requests in their townships.

• Approved a request to purchase some simple benches for inside the tennis court fence.

• Noted that St. Louis County will be using larger plow trucks, and they might be too wide/heavy for use on Birch Point Extension.

• Donated $100 to Northwoods Partners.